BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have some lofty goals heading into the 2019 regular season, and they are not about to let the business of football get in the way, not with all of the additions to the roster looking to further the turnaround for a franchise that has known nothing but struggles since 1999.
Despite his very public trade request, veteran running back Duke Johnson Jr. remains on the roster, and after some harsh words for the ball carrier during the offseason program, quarterback Baker Mayfield plans to set aside the noise and focus on football.
“We are going to handle it like professionals,” Mayfield said following the first practice of training camp Thursday. “It is what it is.”
Johnson Jr.’s future with the Browns has been the topic of much debate and discussion since the organization signed one-time Pro Bowl ball-carrier Kareem Hunt in early February, and the questions grew louder when he did not show up for the voluntary portion of the offseason program.
Johnson Jr. reiterated his demand to be dealt after reporting for mandatory minicamp last month. Then, Johnson Jr. parted ways with his former agent and hired well-known representative Drew Rosenhaus, who successfully negotiated a release from the Browns for Breshad Perriman after they acquired Odell Beckham Jr. from the New York Giants back in March.
After leading the Browns with 74 catches during the 2017 season, Johnson Jr. caught just 47 passes and got 40 carries. Despite the lightened workload, Johnson Jr. averaged a career-high 5.0 yards per carry and matched a single-season personal best with three touchdown receptions.
Selected in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft after a record-setting career with the University of Miami, Johnson Jr. has rushed for 1,286 yards and five touchdowns with 71 first downs and five 20-yard bursts on 299 carries over 64 games in four years with the Browns.
“We addressed it,” Mayfield said of the issues between him and Johnson Jr.
“Freddie talked about it yesterday. We are good. If we are out there smiling… We are here to do our job. He is here, and like I said when it all came out, we want people who want to be here, and he is here right now. That is important. I think that shows that we are here to win.”
Mayfield is willing to put aside those negative feelings because, like Browns coach Freddie Kitchens, he believes the goal of winning the Super Bowl “absolutely should be the goal every year.” In fact, Mayfield sees of collection of players ready to put in the work now to experience “Victory Mondays” throughout the season.
“We want guys who want to win,” Mayfield said. “We want guys who want to be here to work with each other.
“The goals should absolutely be that high. We know and we have to emphasize that to get there, you have to take it one week at a time and one game at a time. Right now, it is training camp and we have to take it one day at a time. Just work on the little things right now to get to that ultimate goal.”